אֲבַדֹּה
a perishing
Definition
The noun אֲבַדֹּה (ʼăbaddôh) refers to the state or act of perishing, destruction, or ruin. It denotes a complete and final loss, often implying a violent or catastrophic end. In its single biblical occurrence in Proverbs 27:20, it is used metaphorically to describe the insatiable nature of Sheol and Abaddon (destruction), paralleling human desires that are never satisfied. The word carries a sense of irreversible termination, similar to its more common synonym אֲבַדּוֹן (ʼăbaddôn, H11).
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Proverbs 27:20: 'Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man.' Here, it is personified as 'Abaddon' (translated as 'destruction' in many versions) and paired with Sheol (the realm of the dead) to illustrate a profound, unquenchable appetite. The usage is poetic and proverbial, emphasizing a theme of limitless consumption. It appears exclusively in Wisdom literature.
Etymology
אֲבַדֹּה is a variant or possible scribal alteration of the more common noun אֲבַדּוֹן (ʼăbaddôn, H11), meaning 'destruction' or 'place of destruction.' Both derive from the root אָבַד (ʼābad, H6), meaning 'to perish' or 'to be lost.' The form אֲבַדֹּה is considered by many scholars to be a rare or dialectal variant, possibly a feminine form, of the same essential concept. Its close relationship to אֲבֵדָה (ʼăbēdâ, H9), meaning 'a lost thing,' further connects it to the semantic field of loss and ruin.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word contributes to the biblical theology of judgment and finality. As 'Abaddon,' it is personified alongside Sheol, representing the destructive power of death and the grave that stands in opposition to God's order of life. This pairing in Proverbs 27:20 underscores the serious, insatiable consequences of sin and folly. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of the verse by highlighting that 'destruction' is not a passive state but an active, consuming force in the biblical worldview, later reflected in the New Testament use of 'Abaddon' as a name for the angel of the bottomless pit (Revelation 9:11).
In ancient Israelite thought, concepts of destruction (אֲבַדֹּה) and the underworld (Sheol) were not abstract but were understood as very real, personified forces. The pairing in Proverbs reflects a common poetic device in Wisdom literature to describe the relentless and inevitable nature of death and ruin. This differs from a modern, purely metaphorical understanding, as the original audience likely perceived Abaddon as an actual realm or power associated with ultimate loss and the consequence of turning from wisdom and God.
אֲבַדּוֹן (ʼăbaddôn, H11) — The more standard form meaning 'destruction' or 'place of destruction,' used more frequently. אֲבֵדָה (ʼăbēdâ, H9) — Focuses more on the state of being lost or something that is lost, rather than the process of destruction. שַׁחַת (shachath, H7845) — A broader term for pit, corruption, or destruction, often physical.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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